THE BARQUE CLYDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 13

THE BARQUE CLYDE

ARRIVAL 50 YEARS AGO LONG AND STORMY VOYAGE GALES IN BAY OF BISCAY The fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the barque Clyde from London fell yesterday. Having left London on February 1, she was piloted into the Waitemata Harbour, and dropped anchor at 9 p.m. on May 30. The Clyde waa a barque of 1140 tons register and was under the command of Captain Hoyle. She was under charter for the ShawSavill Company, and A. Heather was the barque's agent in Auckland. The Clyde was described at the time of her arrival as "a good roomy ship with large carrying power and passenger accommodation. In her we have the embodiment of all the qualities that go to make a good sea boat and yet a fast vessel under canvas." Her unusually long voyage was attributed to the long-continued adverse weather that she met during her passage. In his report Captain Hoyle stated that a succession of heavy gales from the south-west and westward were encountered in the Bay of Biscay, raising tremendous seas. The starboard lifeboat was washed overboard and the port lifeboat was smashed to splinters on the skids. The cabins, 'tween decks and storeroom were filled with salt water, and a large quantity of stores damaged. On May 18 she was only 450 miles from Start Point. Letters Sent Home

Variable winds carried the vessel through the doldrums, the equator being crossed on March 11, 33 days out. On March 15 the barque Abbey Tour, homeward bound, was spoken, and a boat was sent to her with letters for Home. The Cape of Good Hope was passed 62 days out, moderate westerly winds prevailing. Favourable winds with fine weather were encountered, running the easting down, and Cape Leewin was passed 85 days out. The wind drew ahead as Bass Strait was neared, and when within 50 miles of the strait, a gale from the east sprang up, which caused the ship to bear away and pass to the southward of Tasmania. Hard south-east winds were met with before the Three Kings were passed on May 26. After sighting Capg Brett a heavy gale from the west-north-wesfc, with much thunder, lightning and torrents of rain, drove the ship off the land, which was not sighted again until May 30, when a light north-west wind brought the ship to Tiri. Passengers for Auckland Shortly after receiving the pilot on board, the Clyde's boatswain, C. Taylor, fell overboard while clearing away the anchors, but was rescued as ha passed astern by a rope being thrown to him. There were no cases of sickness on the voyage, and no deaths. On April 5, one of the passengers, Mrs. Martin, gave birth to a daughter, and both mother and child were progressing favourably when the barque arrived.

Among the Clyde's passengers we re the following:—H. B. Darcy, David Kay, Alice Kay, Mr. and Mrs. Ashton and children., Mr. and Mrs. Sands and children, Mr. and Mrs. Scott and children, Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Eaddy and children, Mr. and Mrs. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Gash and children. Miss Pellington, John Yates, Leonard Spokes, W. Sah>, Jules Mecklenburg, Donald Mcintosh, H. Dauber and E. Book.